“Always so afraid of the darkness within.” Mamie takes my hands. “Don’t you see? So long as you fight the darkness, you stand in the light.”
— Chapter 18

Failure doesn’t define you. It’s what you do after you fail that determines whether you are a leader or a waste of perfectly good air.
— Chapter 48

This book nearly killed me ... multiple times actually. First because of the wait. Or to be precise because it wasn’t even sure that there would be a second book, but thankfully that was cleared up pretty fast after the first book came out (more power to the readers). Then the actual wait with hints and teasers and speculation. Reading the book almost made me walk into traffic, too. And then the book itself ... skies and ten hells, my poor poor heart. At least there are now two more books announced (no idea how I’m supposed to survive those, but let’s be optimistic).
Sabaa Tahir is a masterful storyteller who knows how to grip her readers by the throat and lead them on a journey of hope and loss and love and betrayal so delicately interwoven that at times I forgot to be wary of things to come but still felt that underlying threat. And it’s so full of suspense that sometimes I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out how a particular scene would play out. My cry-pillow also got a good work out ... just a fair warning. What a punch to the gut, very mean author is very mean.
The book doesn’t really end in a cliffhanger per se yet there are some things unresolved and hanging in the balance that I would like to know more about sooner rather than later. But apparently book three is at the moment scheduled for a 2018 release? Say it ain’t so! Not complaining about more books though.

I have no idea how they could have let the story end after the first book, but I suspect the publisher wanted to wait and see if signing up more books would be viable ... not sure if I like that tactic. What do you think? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!

Humility had gotten lost on its journey to his ego, but the two had finally been reunited, and the meeting appeared to be painful.
— Chapter 23

Love had made her fearless, and wasn’t it strange? It was so much easier to fight for another than it was to fight for oneself.
— Chapter 24

This book is so so very wonderful! I am aware that more than others it might really come down to liking this particular way of writing, but for me the author spun a tale of language and plot in a pretty, whimsical, and engaging narrative. Language is such a mighty tool in this book and I loved the way it is used to paint incredible scenes and scenarios. I have no idea how rainlight might look like in reality, but the words are so powerful that after a while you accept the world created in this book with its wondrous and to our mind strange proceedings.
The story itself is as simple as it is extraordinary and that makes this book so precious in my opinion, because it brings a special kind of magic to a journey of self-discovery, rescue, and towards understanding and friendship. Language appreciation will most certainly add to the reading experience yet you can also read it for the adventure and friendship element alone and be thoroughly entertained.

Another YA author writing Middle Grade and transitioning well I think. I’m sad that this seems to be a stand-alone as I’d have liked to see more of this fascinating story universe ... maybe one can hope. Which stand-alone would you want to be expanded into more than one book? Share thoughts and teasers in the comments!

“Someone spent their summer rereading all their Nancy Drew mysteries,” Jasper said.
Tamara gave him a toothy grin. “Someone is going to get a punch in their face.”
— Chapter 6

One of its eyes opened, its pupil large and black, the iris around it a bright purple and star-shaped.
“Children,” it whispered. “I like children.”
The “for breakfast” went unsaid, but seemed clear to Call.
— Chapter 10

This is a harmless middle grade series written by two serene and light-hearted authors ... said no one ever about The Magisterium series. Don’t get me wrong the plot and language are (in my opinion) totally age-appropriate, but if you know the authors from their YA background you also know that they are part of that lovely writer group who thrive on reader angst and tears. And I mean that in the most lovingly, while slightly emotionally tortured, way.
This third book in the series was again a wild roller coaster of high stakes, adventure, and emotion written in that wonderful smooth and blended voice of two masters. I pretend that I can in some passages see who wrote a particular expression or comeback, but overall you’d never guess that there was more than one person writing this. Apart from the part where the story wouldn’t be as dense and the characters maybe lacking a certain layer of depth, but it’s completely impossible to say how this story would have turned out on its own.
That end though ... I have no idea where this will go from here, but rest assured that I’m barely able to contain myself ... yep another year long wait ahead. But some things are worth waiting for and here that’s definitely the case.

Do you know authors who successfully write for more than one age group? Share your thoughts and teasers in the comments!

“Mmm,” Jase says, opening the refrigerator and staring into it in that guy way. Like all the answers to any question I’d ask him are in the crisper or pasted onto the label of the orange juice.
— Chapter 18

It almost shames me to admit how long I’ve put off reading this book. Not because I dreaded it, but because I didn’t want it to end. If that makes any sense? I capital L Loved My Life Next Door and didn’t want to let go of the Garretts then and I sure as hell don’t want to let go of them now. Dear Huntley Fitzpatrick: There are enough Garretts left, pretty please with lost of cherries on top write more about them?
But on a very serious note this book was at the same time all I expected it to be in terms of the writing and emotions and managed to throw me completely for a loop in terms of plot. It’s hard to say anything about it without any spoilers just know this: Whatever you’re expecting is going to happen based on you assumptions after a certain revelation, think again ... and then think again.

You can totally read this book and its prequel independently, which is a feature I really love as it enhances the characters if you know them from the other book but doesn’t distract you if you don’t. What is you opinion on interlocking yet stand-alone books? Let’s hear from you in the comments!